Error on trying to start Apache 2.0 for first time

[Messmaster]

First, I'm at crawling pace learning Red Hat/Apache so my apologies if I don't word this question right. Having never set up a web server before on any platform, I have been tossed into this lake and told to learn to swim. Currently our web site is on Windows with IIS which I inherrited when I took this position.

Setting:
Network manager has set up a UNIX development server running latest version of Red Hat (8.0?). Comes with Apache 2.0. Network guy is a UNIX guru but new to Linux; however after working with it, he loves it. He either knows zilch about web servers (likely) and/or has very little time to help (definitely).

The problem:
After finally figuring out where the apachectl script was (it was in /user/sbin) I typed the command
./apachectl start
Apache did not start and gave me an error.

The error:

Syntax error on line 116 of /etc/httpd/conf.d/ssl.conf:
SSLCertificateFile: file '/etc/httpd/conf/ssl.crt/server.crt' does not exist or is empty

What we've done:
Network guy was clueless. Tried calling Red Hat; they said they don't deal with Apache issues. (o-KAY)

Help needed:
Can anyone point us in the right direction for this error? Cause? Is this something that needs changed in code somewhere? (which I would be very nervous doing but obviously will if I have to) Please remember that I am at the 'for Dummies' stage when you post your reply. TIA Carol Andrejak
Webmaster
Delaware State University

 

[NoMojoMofo]

From the error message, I'm sure you gathered that apache cannot find your security certificate file for ssl.

It sounds as though the installation is not clean. Apache should work right from install so someone has probably monkey'd with it.

I would suggest a couple things:

1) see if you can find that file using the 'locate' command. (If you need information about any command, use 'man <command>' to see the manual pages for it). If it's in a different directory move it to '/etc/httpd/conf/ssl.crt/' change the config file to where it is.

2) By default, ssl for apache on RH8 is configured by placing a file (ssl.conf) in the /etc/httpd/conf.d/ directory. On startup, httpd (apache) looks here for additional config files. Try moving this file out of that directory and see if you can start apache.


3) If none of that works, get a ghost of the entire machine and then get to know the rpm command really well. Unistall what's there and reinstall it. This will also be a good learing process for you as rpm is integral to managing software packages on RH.

 

[Subar]

Carol,
Are you logged in as root when trying to start Apache? I use RedHat 8.0 and I just got the same error that you did. Then I realized I was logged in with a non-privileged account. Give that a shot.

Subar

 

[Messmaster]

Thanks for your help. I had actually given up, turned the machine off and signed up for several classes from Learning Tree. I've already taken the Intro to Unix class. Next week have have Intro to Linux and immediately following that I have Apache Web Server. Then in June I'm taking their PHP/MySQL class. I'm bringing an empty laptop with me to the classes to learn how to load and configure the software. Hopefully all this training should do the trick. <crossing my fingers>

However, I WILL remember your suggestion as far as logging in as root (I can't remember if I was or not) and will make sure I am logged in as such the next time I try.

Carol

Carol Andrejak
Webmaster
Delaware State University